Autonomy can only pacify deteriorating situation in Balochistan

Islamabad, Apr 22 (ANI): Pakistani lawmakers are of the view that only provincial autonomy could pacify the deteriorating situation in Balochistan and wipe out the sense of deprivation among smaller provinces.

The lawmakers also demanded judicial inquiry into the murder of three Baloch nationalist leaders in Turbat, Balochistan and stressed upon the government to implement recommendations of the special parliamentary committee on Balochistan.

Initiating debate over the adjournment motion regarding murder of the nationalist leaders and overall law and order situation in Balochistan, PPP Senator Lashkari Raisani said that measures taken for eliminating the sense of deprivation among the people of the province were vital for preventing the situation from getting worse.

He said dictators were responsible for the present situation, saying General Zia had turned Balochistan and NWFP into arms depots during the Afghan war, The Nation reported.

He demanded constitution of a fact-finding mission and a constitutional package for compensating the aggrieved people of the province.

ANP senator Zahid Khan, too, blamed General Zia regime for the present crises and demanded that provinces should be given the right over their resources.

He said Charter of Democracy was a precious document, but it couldn't resolve the entire problems, as it lacked provision for provincial autonomy, which is the root cause of majority of the national problems.

Meanwhile, the legislators entered into a severe verbal brawl over the remarks of PML-N Senator Javed Ali Shah. After the ANP and tribal senators strongly protested, his remarks were expunged from the record. (ANI)